18/06/2013

“That’s a show I’d rather attend. Only the people who own those horses care about them,” Antonia scoffed. “Everyone else is here to get a glimpse of Her Majesty.” Maybe she would have been among those people if her life had gone a bit differently. “19? You look like a sixth former,” Antonia teased. It was the first time that day a smile decorated her face. The only person who could give her a riveting conversation was Reha. “Not a fan of…” She leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the shoes. “Four inch heels? I’m surprised and devastated.”

“Oh shit- are we watching a show for grown-up horse girls?” she asked with exaggerated pain in her voice. “It’s probably Natalia’s wet dream” she mumbled next shaking her head. She rolled her eyes at Antonia’s comment crossing both arms in front of herself “You mean the wrinkles aren’t genetic?” she asked with a grin. “Or did you just lose that game?” Having Antonia back was probably Reha’s favorite time of the year always. Even when she was younger and Antonia paid her little mind, it was always a good escape from Vince and Natalia, much closer to her in age but universes apart in all else. She chuckled at the heels comment. It had been a fight to get her even in those. Not with their dad, or even anyone in the family really. Just the people in charge of making them look presentable. “Think it would look worse if I fell, left or took them off?”

18/06/2013

“I’m pretty sure neither of us is supposed to be within a nine mile radius to this place.” Her heels hurt her feet already and she is certain the shoes are already stained with grass and mud. She should have worn black shoes even if they would have clashed with the sickly floral Ted Baker dress. “Much less wearing fascinators. But here we are — again.” She poked around the thing on top of her head before she crossed her arms and legs. “I’ve honestly never felt more out of place than here, and I’ve been at the Windsor family Christmas table.” Yes, the Royal Ascot was not Antonia’s scene and it managed to bring out just about every single insecurity she had among these people every single year. June was her least favourite month. “And you can’t even drink, poor you.” ( @rehamokani )

“Hey, at least it will be public so we don’t have to hear the old hag” Reha had long ago stopped trying to please her grandmother. She was sure to die soon if there was a god on this earth, and she would never like any of her illegitimate grandchildren as she so often liked to refer to all of them. Not even Vincent escaped much of the criticism. “Unless she goes fully mental and that’s almost better.” It was easier to bond with Antonia than with any of the others, Andrew being the close second, despite the large age difference. They both understood exactly how outside they were to the whole royal thing. And even if Reha had to spend a lot longer with said family than Antonia, who had immediately moved on to college far away, there was an understanding there that was nice whenever she was around. “Ok - one I’m 19 and two I’ve been drinking at these for years. I’m not a masochist Antonia. I will throw these shoes at someone thought.” she was currently ignoring the thing that had been placed on her head.

@vincentwindsor

Seeing the thing for the first time on the inside was - odd. She’d seen the Buckingham Palace plenty of times on tv. Normally the outside or perhaps a window with the royals waving out. Sometimes the odd look on the inside, a historical program she would fight to keep on the tv, rereading her mother's letter in her mind and imagining herself there. Where she belonged, with a family. 

But it was bigger than she had imagined, cold in a way she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She was going to spend Christmas here, or so she’d been told. A little gift for the poor orphan girl, she wasn’t sure what they were doing but they were finding out if her claim was real somehow. She wasn’t much worried about it. She was here in the meantime and that was nice - awaiting at the house longer would have been hell. She’d been teased plenty so far, from the time before and since. Children could be mean but Reha was pleasantly mean herself. Plus she was about to be a princess - what did they know anyway. 

There had been a long and tiresome thing outside after she first arrived, lots of cameras and questions. She’d been dubbed the Orphan Princess already which she wasn’t very happy about. Especially as it seemed the whole country was laughing at her.  She would show them too. Her father had left right after they got into the house- surely busy in it’s role as King. Maybe he wanted to finish things up so they could spend more time together.

So she was walking the hallways - always good at avoiding the people. This time they had too bright smiles and clipboards and talked to her as if she was slow instead of just a kid. They had been at her side every second except for pictures, whispering what to do and say or where to go next. Exploring alone was way more fun. She came across the prince not long after, the same pang of jealousy she had felt all her childhood when she saw him on tv knowing she should have been right there beside him. But that was going to be fixed now. She pushed the door to the room he was in open, having to use most of her body weight to do so- even if it was already half open. It seemed like a library, but not one similar to anything she had ever seen. But a few bookshelves covered the walls so the word in her mind fitted close enough. In reality, she would come to find it was one of the many sitting rooms.

“What’s up china?”

Reha. The sight of them made Antonia’s brows rise an inch on her face. “G’day to you too.” She gestured them to step inside with her hand. Just about a million question entered her mind but only one was truly relevant. “What are you doing here?” No, she needed to be more specific. “Here in Oslo?” She sat down in her chair and poured another glass of water. “And what do you mean? What have i done to upset you? No need to be so bloody aggressive.”

“I’m here to talk to yo-” when the correction came Reha nodded. What were they doing here? It was truly the question of the century. Reha had thought they would be running from problems for the rest of their life until the account ran dry. And Reha had never been much of a spender so that was unlikely any time soon. “No yeah- still here to talk to you.” Reha has always felt the most comfortable letting her actual accent out in front of Antonia. There was a certain comfort in knowing even perfect Antonia had a rough side. Or perhaps the comfort in knowing she, like themselves, wasn’t like all of them. “You were either tied or behind someone in every poll I saw. Independently of demographics. You even got educated white woman clutching their pearls and mumbling among themselves.” They explained quickly with a wave of their hand like it was unimportant. “I was basically dying when we last talk how could you ignore your sis- my one dying wish Antonia?” the humor was, odd of Reha. Something that they were unlikely to use. It’s only purpose was to alleviate words and they rarely wanted others to doubt their true meaning. But they were trying to extend a truce to Antonia, and the sibling's relationship was to brutalized yet to be anything but slightly odd. “So I’m here to like- offer my help or whatever.”

Luciana was busy with other matters that she did not know what was the cause of the other brunette’s statement. She shifted her focus from the email she was typing to the loud couple and that was when it hit her. "You need to work on your patience. Otherwise, you might end up just like that woman whose anger is very evident on her face.”

Reha had to force a smile at that- very clearly annoyed at the others reply “Great. I never really wanted to be a patient woman” Reha replied, very much realizing there was no way this princess could have any knowledge of her distaste for both of those words equality “Lady - this is a public space!” she told the woman turning around in her chair. Her confrontational attitude amplified by the whole thing. “Shut it” thankfully they were in control enough still not to curse. They had been warned how badly that was seen in Dubai.

“Well spoken,” her head bowed merrily along though she was sure the other wasn’t in the mood to converse.  She remained quiet for a moment, watching the scene at hand. Meals, for her, were sort of sacred, eating and enjoying company with no outside distractions. “We could ask them to lower their voice – politely?”

“Not really my brand if I’m honest” Reha replied with a bit of a forced smile. Bot because of the princess, Reha had just stopped being interested in sucking up to the royals ever since they had gave up on the idea of the title. “Politeness.” neither was patience but so far they had only thought about grabbing the kid the next time he ran past and that sounded like trouble. “Plus I tend to find people who act like this- don’t give a fuck about requests.”

Vincent had just been walking by when he heard the voice that he would recognize anywhere, and he nearly gave himself whiplash with how fast his head swung to locate the source. Reha didn’t usually want to see him on their best days, which meant this seemed like a particularly poor time to approach, but he had wondered where they had gone. It was like they disappeared without a trace. 

“Reha?” He was amused by her comment, a smile on his face as he stood a few paces in front of her. “Welcome to Oslo, I didn’t realize you were coming. Have you– how have you been?” He settled on, not sure how to not sound nosy. He didn’t make a move to sit down, waiting to see if they shot the same venom from their mumbling at him as well.

Reha had expected a few more days before they had to run into Vince. They had managed to avoid him in Oslo, and there was nothing they liked better than a challenge. This, of course, wouldn’t last and they were aware of it, had been prepping themselves for it. And yet the second they saw him it was like it was all back again. Reha had never been able to pin point why they disliked Vince, it was like a primal thing in their gut. Therapy helped with identifying it but not much else yet. “Take a picture it will last longer.” 

Their words came before Vince even spoke up. It lacked some of the old bite to it. Almost a shadow of it. The worst part of therapy was likely how they now had a voice in their head telling them why they were doing all these things. They needed to keep up the front. You’re afraid to seem weak. It was pathetic. “'m fine, how’s you shot wound?”  They replied looking back down at their things “You look like a moron standing there” They hated how much less polished they already sounded compared to Vince. It had only been a few months. 

“Where the hell have you been?” Rhiannon replied as she saw Reha when she overheard her comment. Looking down to the table with the person in question, she let out a laugh. “But yes, I agree. That person needs to pipe down over there. I’m going to start shouting into my phone and we’ll see how they like it.” 

Reha looked up at Rhi at her question- she sounded annoyed which Reha could understand. Most people didn’t expect much from them- Reha had never been known for their friendliness. But they had gotten along with Rhi well enough that disappearing without a goodbye was probably noticeable. It kinda warmed their heart a bit “Here and there.” Not that they would be able to express that even if they had wanted to. Fear of rejection or whatever they had said in therapy. Bullshit titles and boxes had never been something they appreciated. “Please do save us all from this misery.” it was easier then and Reha was thankful at Rhi for giving them an out- purposefully or not. A small smile as on their lips as they had that. “You look nice- still not tied down I take it?”

@rehamokani

natalia had gotten too comfortable with her time at the thief, mindlessly taking the walk back up from the lobby to her room, the same contemporary decor lining the halls as always. only today, she spotted something, no, SOMEONE different. she had to stop and stare for a moment. their dauntless stance, their dark hair, all distinguishable traits that only added up to one person. the person whose last memory natalia held was of them in a pool of their own blood, screaming for natalia to leave them. a gruesome memory natalia had not been able quite get rid of. “ REHA ? “ her head tilted as to really take in their face. “ i was starting to think you actually died. “

“Was there ever really a point to running?” He teased before letting out a laugh. Things had gotten awkward between the pair over the last few years, but he really blamed himself. The fight for the crown had really shaken things up. “I feel like things have been a blur since the last time we talked. How’ve you been?”

“Have you met our siblings?” was their only reply. Followed by a forced smile- the one they had put on many times before and was noticeable a mile away. Sometimes people wondered if they made it that way on propose, Reha thought they just weren’t made for smiling. “Mhe- I was going to anger management for a bit. Thank god I punctured that lung in Grece I never wanted to punch a group of people so bad. And I lived like 10 years with our dear father.”

Reha hadn’t stayed in Oslo long enough last time to explore the city. Being away from the Royals had taken priority and the ruptured lung had kept them pretty much contained to the hospital or the hotel in the time they actually spent her. They were just about to walk out the doors of the hotel when the familiar figure passed them. “No real point in running anymore uhm?” they joked with a half smile. Andrew had been their favorite once upon a time. But anger and resentment had clouded their feelings for long. They didn’t even remember the last time the two had a proper conversation.

Reha hadn’t really been sure when they left in the summer, how long they would truly be away. They hadn’t written up a plan. Being away from all of it for the first time since childhood was really the only thing they wanted. And yet five months sounded like too soon. Like nothing even had time to change. And yet here they were. Making their way down the vaguely familiar hallways looking for the room number they had gotten from downstairs. It’s was easy enough to get. The pause at sister only got a vaguely confused look from the Swedish lady before she smiled and got them Antonia’s room number from the database. They would never get used to being an easily recognizable figure. The room came into view soon enough and they knocked on the door taking a step back and shoving their hands on the pockets of their pants. They were too small and it was distraction enough that they weren’t prepared when the door opened looking at their sister for a second to long before pushing out air loudly from their nose “What the fuck Antonia?”

warning for long ass bio, if you know Reha feel free to skip all the way to NOW part - hit me up for plots tho! or like this and i’ll message you.